Category Archives: Talmidim

There are a ton of words and phrases that we use to describe our view and vision of what a disciple is and what discipleship means. Even among our own ministry we have used a plethora of different words to demonstrate how we talk about being a disciple or discipling others. Paul says in Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”

Being a disciple is someone who has submitted to Jesus and seeks to become like Him. Discipleship is imitating a mentor (disciple) who imitates Jesus.

If we were to take a look at discipleship at the time of Jesus we would see his talmidim (disciples) following him everywhere, imitating his every word and his every action. The desire of a talmid (disciple) was to know what the rabbi knew, in order to do what the rabbi did, in order to be just like their rabbi in his walk with God. Perhaps this gives new meaning to the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus says to his talmidim, “go do the same things that we have been doing the last three years. Just as I taught you, as we have lived life along side of each other, go teach others. Walk along side of them, live life with them, continue to imitate me so that in imitating you, they will be imitating me.”

Submit to Jesus and become like him and we can do this by imitating a mentor (disciple) who imitates Jesus.

Rich Mullins was one of my favorite song writers. Rich had a way of telling a story and painting a picture of the everyday struggle to be a real talmid (disciple) of Jesus in a modern world. His words and music resonate with me still because his joy, compassion, brokenness and unblinking honesty all served his greatest desire, pointing people toward God.

In our campus ministry work, our greatest desire is to be talmidim (disciples) of Jesus. This weeks discussion at Indiana U. of South Bend centered on the last segments of Matthew chapter 5.

Matthew 5:38-48 (ESV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Wether it’s on campus, at a job, in the public schools or some other corner of the society we live in, as Christians we often find ourselves tempted to be defensive when we are challenged or attacked because we hold the Bible to be truth. How many times do we see in some aspect of social media vicious words spoken… on both sides? These passages in Matthew are the teachings Jesus used to train his talmidim. His words are true for us as well. People outside of Christ do not hold the Bible to be truth. Using it to hit them over the heads does nothing because we are not on equal footing. As talmidim, we are called to be different… uncommon… why? because our God is different! Those that hate us because of Jesus may still hate us, but if we act any other way than the way Jesus teaches in the sermon on the mount, we lose our credibility and our witness and we sure aren’t pointing people towards Jesus. Those we are retaliating against will never see anything in Christians other than hate if we act the same as everyone else. These words of Jesus apply to all of us who aspire to be one of His talmidim. Anyone remember the trendy Christian thing “WWJD” (what would Jesus do)? We know what he would do and have us do… love those who oppose and hate us, pray for them, forgive them. It’s not a level playing field, how can we expect them to act any different if they don’t believe? Being a talmid of Jesus I know the truth and I need to have His words be reflected in my daily life. If I don’t, how can I be an arrow pointing to heaven?

Here we are finishing the second week of September and already running strong on the campuses in South Bend, Indiana. With discipleship being such a strong part of our ministry at Impact, I found myself all summer being drawn to the Jesus’ words throughout the gospels, specifically beginning with the sermon on the mount. I’m drawn to His words because they are the only recorded teaching moments with His talmidim (tahl-me-DEEM, Hebrew word meaning disciples or students of a rabbi).

As I pursue being a talmid (disciple) of Jesus I see the need to rethink what it meant to follow a rabbi. In our western thought we look at imitation, mimicking, and plagiarism as negative things but as I try to understand more of Jesus and his first followers, I realize that imitation was exactly what a talmid would try to do. They wanted to be like their rabbi in every aspect, trying to take on all of the his characteristics, the way he thought, the way he taught. They would be with him constantly because they didn’t want to miss one thing the teacher would say. The 12 disciples would have done the same with Jesus.

This is why I marvel at the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:

Matthew 5:2-12 (ESV) 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Here was the promised Messiah, who many thought would come and save them from Roman oppression and this is His message. Not one of vengeance but one of mercy, forgiveness, peace, humility, even in the face of persecution. This is the message he chooses to give to his talmidim. Why? because God is a god of love and forgiveness. Because He is different, we are to be different. The teachings Jesus spoke to His 12 talmidim is the same message for those of us who choose to follow Him now. This is the same message we need to model and instill in the lives of college students. Pursue, model, and teach Christ on the college campus. I can’t think of a better place to start with young students than the very things Jesus taught to His own talmidim!